Saturday, July 02, 2005
From Philadelphia In 1776 To The Moon In 1969.
American flags will be flying all across the United States come this Monday's Fourth of July celebration. With embassies and bases all over the world, the flag is flying somewhere on Earth at any time. That's 24/7, as the saying goes. The flag flies far above our heads on Luna all the time as well. But there it's 708/1: 708 hours a day and 1 month-long day per month. Not bad for a young country born during rebellion a mere 11 score and 9 years ago in Philadelphia. The flag's been flying unattended at Tranquility Base since 1969. It's about time somebody went back to take care of it
To those who will celebrate the holiday, here's wishing you a Happy Fourth of July.
UPDATE (July 3, 2005; 7:00 pm, PDT): A reader, Brad, comments that the Apollo 11 flag was blown over by exhaust when the astronauts took off from the moon. So the flag is no longer flyng at Tranquility Base. Perhaps it's time for somebody to return and pick it up.
Here are the flags at other Apollo landing sites:
The flag at the Apollo 17 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 16 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 15 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 14 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 12 landing site is pictured above.
-tdr
To those who will celebrate the holiday, here's wishing you a Happy Fourth of July.
UPDATE (July 3, 2005; 7:00 pm, PDT): A reader, Brad, comments that the Apollo 11 flag was blown over by exhaust when the astronauts took off from the moon. So the flag is no longer flyng at Tranquility Base. Perhaps it's time for somebody to return and pick it up.
Here are the flags at other Apollo landing sites:
The flag at the Apollo 17 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 16 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 15 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 14 landing site is pictured above.
The flag at the Apollo 12 landing site is pictured above.
-tdr
Comments:
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Hi,
Here is some odd trivia.
According to the book, "Chariots for Apollo", during the ascent from the moon Buzz Aldrin witnessed the flag get blown down by the exhaust from the rocket engine of the Eagle spacecraft.
I imagine greater care was taken of the flag in subsequent Apollo missions. So your point of the U.S. flag flying on the moon is still valid.
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Here is some odd trivia.
According to the book, "Chariots for Apollo", during the ascent from the moon Buzz Aldrin witnessed the flag get blown down by the exhaust from the rocket engine of the Eagle spacecraft.
I imagine greater care was taken of the flag in subsequent Apollo missions. So your point of the U.S. flag flying on the moon is still valid.
# posted by 
: 4:30 AM
: 4:30 AM<< Home
